Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The more I think about it, it looks like our Eastern way of life had some stuff. Remember, our people in the olden days did not use boxes for moving. They used to bundle stuff in various shapes, enclose in old sheets, sarees or dotis. Families used to have big bundles around them when they traveled. In bullock carts may be.. Even now I see villagers moving around in Lorries with their possessions bundles.

They are all helping the eco system. I know I am being highly romantic and viewing things with rose tinted glasses.

“ Nearby colony sir.”“How did the money go?”“I boarded a bus near Paradise sir.. Tow ladies were near me, the Bus was crowded”

“were was the money?”

She indicated the handbag. It was a grey shiny bag, pretty unimpressive with many zips.:In the purse sir..See sir This she tore and took my purse..”One side of the bag. and the zip was open..

“When was this”

“At 5 p.m. .. I got down from the bus and went home and found the money missing”“I called the Secretary and he brought me here for FIR”

“What else was there”

“ Cheque book and some papers”

“How much money”“Twenty thousand”

“What.. You went in a crowded bus with so much money? Where do you work? “

“LIC agent sor, I brought Post office interest for my clients”” And how come you did not go by auto”“My Karma only.. I usually go by auto Two women were near by me.. They were touching my neck. .So I held on to my Thali and my bag was on the shoulders.”“ How come you let he bag at the back.. You should have put it in front. ““ Yes sir, those tow ladies were falling over me ..”

“ Madam, you saved your chain and lost your purse.. When in a crowded bus , you should hold on to bag in front of you”“ Yes sir.. ‘’ Sad faced and crestfallen.. the lady looked tired and harassed. She knew it was her fault to let those women get the better of her..

Where do you live?The Secretary.. “ Sir in nearby colony sir, I live in front of her house Sir.. You know our colony..”“ yes yes..”

“We have two guys manning our gates sir. As per your suggestion, we do night patrolling sir..”“ But having guys sit in front of the gate is not enough .. Will the thief come and enter through the gate? He will scale walls.. You better raise those compound walls near the Cemetery!”

“Yes sir. “ The Secretary tried his best in PR , his wife watching him with tired eyes.. By then our sympathy was with everyone including the Inspector..:-)Inspector :” Amma. When you carry cash you should travel by auto..This is a lonely area, so when you board auto in day time too.. you should be careful..Go the front of the auto and in the full view of the driver write down his number and then sit inside. Night time don’t travel alone. If the auto driver has two guys in the driver seat don’t engage that auto..”I can register compliant, but you don’t even have description of the ladies who followed you..”

“Yes Sir they were wearing fully covered dress in black!”

“ What is your husband doing? Can we call him..”

“No sir, he is already harassed on First of the month . He is cashier in Bank . I wont tense him up now I will tell him when he comes home.. “ It does not matter now, I will be careful next time”..

She left after thanking the Inspector, and the Secretary too thanked him and made goodwill gesture and went .

We felt sad for that lady who lost 20000 and said it is my Karma. She looked so sucker like anyone would get encouraged to rob her. She just accepted the suggestion that money wont come back and what is use of FIR in this small case. She blamed her Karma and went away.

I could not comment on Badri's blog due to some firewall.. So here is my contribution.

We do not encourage children to think. Trust me, I have seen in Government Schools.. they have to listen to the teachers and learn by rote.. how will the children who come from slums and under privelaged areas , learn topics which are not in their daily lives?

They have to repeat what the teacher says!. They have to copy what they see on the board. The copy even the answers.. If any child dares to raise any topic, they are silenced by mockery.

In most of the private schools, 'the marks' rule their lives. All have to take tuition, learn their lessons,and repeat the same for exams. Excellance is enocuraged in answer papers only. The nearer the answer is to the text book( exact copy), the better the rank. where is the place for originality?

I have not come across any discussion on topics even in the higher classes. It is appalling what we pre-determine and teach children , What we decide best for creating some menial jobs....They have no choice, since choices are not given to them ! WHAT A WASTE OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

Compare this with advanced countries. Atleast to some extent, all the children go to schools nearer thier homes, .. the teaching is the same in most of the schools. The same opportunities are given to all the students. ( compulsory education). Creativity is encouraged.

We have to do so much more.. When and who will do it. I wonder. I feel sad.